Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-12-27

Tho two men looked at each other, both
,truck specchless by the same emotion Of hor-
ror. Tho manager was the first to control
himself 'Sec to the door, for Gods sake"
no said "Somo Of tho people outside may
have heard me-"
Henry moved mechanically TO the door.
Even when he had his hand on The key,
ready 10 turn it in the loci; in case OF ncccs-
uty. ho still looked bacl, at the appalling
obiect on tho floor There was no possibility
! Of identifying those decaycd and distorted
| features with any living creature whom he
had seen-and yet he was conscious Of feeling
A vague and awful doubt which shook him
10 the soul. The questions which tortured
Tho Eind of Agnes were now his questions,
too. He asked himself, I'm whose likeness
might have recognized it before the decay
,et int The likeness OF Ferrnrii or the like
ness off, lie paused trembling, as Ag-
mes had paused trembling before him. Agnesl
Tho naLle, of all women's names the dearest
% him, was terror TO him nowl What was
he to say to heri What might DO tho conse-
lueuco If he trusted her with the terrible
TRUTH
No footsteps approached tho door; no voices
wore audible outside. The travellers were
till occupied IN their rooms ut the eastern
and Of the corridor.
In tho brief interval that had passed the
manager had sufficiently recovered himself to
| DO able to think once moro Of the first and
foremost interest OF his life-the interest Of
The hotel He approached Henry nnxiously.
"If this frightful discovery becomes
Snown," he said, "the closing Of the hotel
and the ruin Of the company will be the in
| ayitable results. ! feel sure that / can trust
your discretion, sir, so fart"
"You can certainly trust mo-" Henry an
,wered. "But surely discretion has its linn
| its, he added, "after such a discovery as we
have made"
| The manager understood that the duty
which they owed to the community as honest
md law abiding men, was the duty to which
Henry now referred. 81 will at orce find the
means,n he said, "of conveying the remains
privately out OF the house, and will myself
place them in the care Of the police authori-
lies. win you leave the room with mel or
10 you not object to keep watch here, and
help ME when / roturnP
While he was speaking, the voices Of tho
travellers maho themselves heard ngain at the
sud Of tho corridor. Henry instantly con-
,ented to wait in the room. He shrunk from
facing the inevitable meeting with Agnes il
he showed himself in the corridor at that mo-
ment
The manager hastened his departure. in the
homo OF escaping notice. He was discovered
by his guests before lie could reach the head
, Of the stairs. Henry heard the voices plainly
a Is he turned the key. While the terrible
, drama OF discovery was in progress on one
, side Of the door, trivial questions about tho
amusements OF Venice and facotious discus
,ions OH the relative merits of French and
a Italian cookery were proceeding ON the other.
Little by little the sound OF the talking grew
fainter. The visitors having arranged theiI
, plans OF amusement for the day, were on
their way out Of the hotel. In minute Oh
y two there was silence once more.
= Henry turned to the window, thinking tC
| relieve his mind 10y looking at tho bright
view over the caual He soon grew weariot
! Of the familiar scene. The morbid fascina
ton which seems to be exercised by all hor
/ r.ole sights, drew him back again to th
chastity object on tho floor.
, Dream or reality, how had Agnes survive,
! the sight OF iti As the question passe,
: through his mind, ho noticed for the frs
time something lying on the floor near til,
head. Looking closer, h0 perceived THU
2 little plate Of gold, with three false teeth at
Z tached to it, which had apparently droppeC
out Qoosened by the shocli) when the manage
!, let the head fall on the floor.
The Importance Of this discovery, and tn
: necessity of not too readily communicating /
q 10 othors, instantly struck Henry. Her
surely was chance--if any chance remaine'
=. of identifying tho shocking relic of human
!. lty which lay before him, the dumb witnes
Of crlmol Acting on this idea, he too
a possession of the teeth, purposing to use then
4 ns "a last means OF inquiry when other al
tempts Mt investigation had been tried an
/. had failed.
4 He won't back again 10 the window; til
! solitude Of tho room began to weigh on hi
spirits. As he looked out again at the view
4, there was q soft knock at tho door. ii
I hastened to open it-and checked himself i
: the act A doubt occurred to him. Was
7 the manager who had Inoctedi He Gale
v out, "Who is therep
Tho voice OF Agnes answered him "Hav
you anything to tell me, HenryP
4 He was hardly able to reply. mot jus
n now.n lie said, confusedly. Forgive me If
: don't open the door. / will speak to you
i little later"
4 The sweet voice made itself heard agair
!. pleading with him piteously. Don't leav
l. me alone, Henryl l can't go back to til
happy people down stairs"
o How could he resist that appeall he hear
her sigh-he heard the rustlng Of her dres
Y ns she moved away in despair. The yer
: thing that he had shrunk from doing but
v few minutes since was the thing that he di
4 nowl He Joined Agnes in the corridor Sh
turned as she heard him, and pointed tren
I bling in tho direction Of the closed room
: as it so terrible as thatT' she asked, family
r He put his arm round her to support he
: A thought came TO him as he looked at be
waiting in doubt and fear for his reply
|. "You shall decide tho question for yourself
3 no said, "if you will first put on your hat an
cloak, md come out with mo-"
r She was naturally surprised. Can 20
/ tell mo your object in going outf" she asked
!, | .s--..--.-- -
o He owned what his object was unreser1
4 edly ~ want, before oil things" no sale
ito satisfy your mind and minc on the sui
n feet OF Montbarry's DEATH l am going I